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ONCE UPON A DREAM
By Charles Solomon

A complete illustrated history of Sleeping Beauty, from the Grimm fairy tale, to the Disney animated film, to the live-action movie Maleficent starring Angelina Jolie!

With its themes of a beautiful princess, a dashing prince, and love triumphing over powerful magic, “Sleeping Beauty” remains one of the most beloved of all fairy tales. The story was first published by Charles Perrault in 1697. Perrault’s vision of the ageless, enchanted princess slumbering in her vine-encrusted tower has fascinated readers and artists for more 300 years three times as long as the heroine slept. This heavily-illustrated book will trace the history of that fascination, which has manifested itself in literature, fine art, poetry, music, and film.

The most celebrated cinematic version of Sleeping Beauty is Walt Disney’s, the glorious finale of the animated fairy tales he began in 1937 with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Although Briar Rose/Aurora was the most beautiful and beautifully animated of the Disney princesses, the film was dominated by Maleficent: Perrault’s shriveled old fairy was transformed into the epitome of the lovely but terrible sorceress of fantasy literature.

The book will conclude with the development and creation of Maleficent, including interviews with Angelina Jolie, Imelda Staunton, Linda Woolverton, Sean Bailey, Joe Roth, Don Hahn, and director Robert Stromberg (Oscar-winning art director of Avatar and Alice in Wonderland); behind-the-scenes details and photography; costumes, props, and makeup; and plenty of movie magic!

Starting April 18th, guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will have the chance to see a special extended trailer of “Maleficent” in the ABC Sound Studio. The thrilling trailer will be playing daily through mid-June. “Maleficent” opens in theaters on May 30 and stars Angelina Jolie in the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the classic “Sleeping Beauty” and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone.

“Maleficent” explores the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the classic “Sleeping Beauty” and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone. Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king’s newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds her legacy. Maleficent realizes that Aurora may hold the key to peace in the land and is forced to take drastic actions that will change both worlds forever.

Be sure to give @Maleficent a follow on Twitter. Word is that Something big is coming! You know the tale but you don’t know the truth. Follow now…

…and while you’re at it, give me a follow to stay on top of all the Disney news and reviews I come across. Thanks! @AmandaTinney

Award-winning, American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey has recorded a unique reimagining of the renowned fairy-tale tune from Disney’s classic animated film “Sleeping Beauty,” which will feature in the end credits of the upcoming Disney film.

Lana Del Rey’s “Once Upon a Dream” is free for a limited time, only on Google Play, Google’s online store offering digital music, movies, books, games and more. The song was made available as a free download today and will be available exclusively on Google Play through Monday, February 3rd Grab it here: http://smarturl.it/ldrgps1